Roof ventilator

ABSTRACT

A roof ventilator includes a tubular member extending to an upper flange defining an upper sealing edge and providing a radially outwardly extending lip which prevents moisture from entering the ventilator. Three tabs are mounted at circumferentially spaced points around the tubular member and support a cover which extends over the tubular member and downwardly to a flange positioned below the upper sealing edge. An annular screening section extends between the tubular member and the cover to prevent foreign objects from entering the ventilator. A plate is normally engaged with the upper sealing edge under the action of gravity to seal the ventilator and includes slots which receive the tabs to guide the plate for vertical movement out of engagement with the sealing edge in response to pressure developed within the tubular member.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,783,767

Stalker Jan. 8, 1974 ROOF VENTILAT OR Primary Examiner-William E. Wayner Attorney-D. Carl Richards et a].

[57] ABSTRACT 1 rob t" ventilator includes a tiibular inember extending to an upper flange defining an upper sealing edge and providing a radially outwardly extending lip which prevents moisture from entering the ventilator. Three tabs are mounted at circumferentially spaced points around the tubular member and support a cover which extends over the tubular member and downwardly to a flange positioned below the upper sealing edge. An annular screening section extends between the tubular member and the cover to prevent foreign objects from entering the ventilator. A plate is normally engaged with the upper sealing edge under the action of gravity to seal the ventilator and includes slots which receive the tabs to guide the plate for vertical movement out of engagement with the sealing edge in response to pressure developed within the tubular member.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures [75] Inventor: James E. Stalker, Richardson, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Home Metal Products Company,

Plano, Tex.

[22] Filed: July 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 270,309

[52] US. Cl 98/42, 98/83, l37/533.19, 98/119 [51] Int. Cl F24f 7/02 [58] Field of Search 98/42, 43, 116, 119, 98/83, 85, 59; l37/533.17, 533.19

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,012,495 12/196] Miller 98/119 X l8l,497 8/]876 Thomas l37/533.l9- 3,302,551 2/l967 Van Belle et al. 98/43 R 3,386,368 6/1968 Fielding 98/43 R Roor VENTILA'IOR BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to roof ventilators, and more particularly to an improved roof ventilator characterized by a small number of easily manufactured and easily assembled component parts.

Buildings such as houses, apartments, stores, etc., are often provided with vent pipes which extend from kitchen ventilating hoods, bathroom fans, etc., to the roof of the building. At the roof, such a vent pipe terminates in a roof ventilator which serves both to prevent rain, snow, etc., from entering'the building through the vent pipe and to seal the vent pipe whenever its respective kitchen hood, bathroom fan, etc., is not in use. Heretofore, most roof ventilators have been relatively complicated in design in that they have included pivotally or rotatable supported sealing members, etc.

. The present invention comprises a novel roofventilator which overcomes the foregoing and other disadvantages that are characteristic of the prior art. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, a roof ventilator incorporating the invention includes a tubular member which extends to an upper flange. The flange defines an upper sealing edge and comprises a radially outwardly extending lip which prevents moisture from entering the ventilator. Aplate is normally engaged with the upper sealing edge to seal the ventilator. The plate is supported for vertical movement under the action of pressure developed within the tubular member by a kitchen ventilating hood, a bathroom fan,

' etc., whereby exhaust flow out of the ventilator is permitted.

The ventilator further includes a plurality of tabs positioned at spaced points around the tubular member. The tabs are received by slots formed in the plate and therefore function to guide the plate in its vertical movement. The tabs support a cover which extends over the upper end of the tubular member and then downwardly to a lower edge positioned below the upper sealing edge of the tubular sealing member. An annular screening section extends between the tubular member and the. cover to prevent foreign objects from entering the ventilator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a roof ventilator incorporating the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the roof ventilator shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION ing lip 20. The lip is continuous around the tubular member 12 and serves to prevent moisture from entering the roof ventilator 10 under the action of wind, etc.

Three tabs 22 are mounted at circumferentially spaced points around the upper end of the tubular member 12. As is best shown in FIG. 1, each tab 22 comprises a vertically extending portion 24, a horizontally extending portion 26, and a pair of fingers 28 and 30 which are formed at the opposite ends of the horizontally extending portion 26. The tabs 22 are secured to tubular member 12 by suitable means, such as spot welds formed between the fingers 28 and the tubular member 12.

An imperforate cover 32 is supported on the tubular member 12 of the roof ventilator I0 by the tabs 22. The cover 32 extends over the upper end of the tubular member 12 and then downwardly to a lip 34 positioned below the upper sealing edge 16 of the tubular member 12. The cover 32 is secured to the tabs 22 by suitable means, such as spot welds formed between the finger 3t) and the cover 32.

An annular screening section 36 extends between the tubular member 12 and the cover 32 at a point just below the radially outwardly extending lip 20 and just above the horizontally extending portions 26 of the tabs 22. The screening section 36 extends continuously between the tubular member 12 and the cover 32 and is provided with a plurality of cutaway portions 38 which receive the vertically extending portions 24 of the tabs 22. In the use of the roof ventilator 10, the screening section 36 functions to prevent wind-home solid objects, insects, birds, etc, from entering the upper portion of the cover 32 and thereby possibly entering the interior of the tubular member 12.

The roof ventilator 10 further includes a plate 40 comprising a flat circular member which is somewhat larger in diameter than the tubular member 12. The plate 40 is provided with a plurality of slots 42 which receive the vertically extending portions 24 of the tabs 22. The plate 40 normally engages the upper sealing edge 16 under the action of gravity, and thereby serves to seal the tubular member 12. Whenever pressure is developed within the tubular member 12 the plate 40 moves upwardly against the action of gravity to permit the exhaust flow out of the ventilator 10. During this vertical movement the plate 40 is guided by the cooperation of the slots 42 and the vertically extending portions 24 of the tabs 22. Subsequently when the pressure in the cylindrical portion 12 is released the plate 40 moves downwardly under the action of gravity and into sealing engagement with the upper sealing edge 16.

The roof ventilator I0 is normally installed on the roof of a building such as a home, an apartment, a store, etc. In such instances the tubular member 112 of the roof ventilator 10 receives the upper end of a ventilating pipe 44 extending to a kitchen ventilating hood, a bathroom fan, etc. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the lower end of the tubular member 12 may advantageously be provided with a radially extending flange 46 for use in forming a weather-tight seal between the roof ventilator II) and the adjacent roof structure. It will be further appreciated that the lower end of the tubular member 12 need not extend horizontally, but may extend at any angle in accordance with the requirements of a particular application.

The function of the roof ventilator I0 is to permit exhaust flow from the upper end of the ventilating pipe 44 while simultaneously effectively sealing the upper end of the ventilating pipe. Thus, the annular screening section 36 prevents windbome solid objects, insects, birds, etc. from entering the ventilating pipe 44 and the radially outwardly extending lip 18 seals the upper end of the ventilating pipe 44 against the entry of moisture under the action of the wind etc. Furthermore, the upper end of the ventilating pipe 44 is normally sealed by engagement of the plate 40 with the upper sealing edge 16 under the action of gravity.

Whenever pressure is developed within the ventilating pipe 44, such as by operation of a kitchen ventilating hood, a bathroom fan, etc. connected to the ventilating pipe, the plate 40 moves vertically upwardly against the action of gravity to permit exhaust flow out of the ventilating pipe 44 and out of the tubular member 12. During this vertical movement the plate 40 is guided by the cooperation of the slots 42 and the vertically extending portions of the tabs 22. The extent to which the plate 40 moves vertically depends upon the pressure within the ventilating pipe 44. Thus, the plate may move vertically until it engages the cover 32 if sufficient pressure is developed within the ventilating pipe 44 and the tubular member 12.

The plate 44 remains vertically displaced from the sealing unit 16 so long as there is exhaust flow out of the ventilating pipe 44. When the operation of the kitchen ventilating hood, the bathroom fan, etc., that is connected to the ventilating pipe 44 is discontinued, the pressure within the ventilating pipe is released, whereupon the plate 40 again settles into sealing engagement with the upper sealing edge 16 under the action of gravity. Once again the movement of the plate 40 is guided and controlled by the cooperation of the slots 42 and the vertically extending portions 24 of the tabs 22. Upon engagement with the sealing edge 16, the plate 44 again serves to seal the upper end of the tubular member 12 and hence the upper end of the ventilating pipe 44.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the present invention comprises a roof ventilator which overcomes the disadvantages that have long since characterized the prior art. Thus, roof ventilators incorporating the invention are easily manufactured from relatively uncomplicated parts, and are therefore economical to manufacture and to use. At the same time, roof ventilators incorporating the invention provide a very effective seal for the upper end of ventilating pipes and the like against the entry of foreign objects, moisture, etc.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions in parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A roof ventilator comprising in combination:

a tubular member having a sealing means at one end with an annular sealing edge and a lip extending outwardly from said edge;

an impcrforate plate mounted for movement between a first position wherein said plate engages said sealing edge and a second position wherein said plate is disposed away from said sealing edge, said plate and said tubular member being positioned when in use so that gravitational forces will urge said plate to move in a direction toward a first position; a cover positioned to extend over the end of said tubular member and then downwardly to a rim positioned beneath said sealing edge; and

a plurality of tab means of a planar sheet of material having a first portion and a second portion extending at right angles to each other in a common plane, said first portion including opposed surfaces for contacting said plate to guide said plate during movement thereof, a first finger extending from said second portion transverse to the plane of said first and second portion and attached to said tubular member, and a second finger extending from the second portion in a direction parallel to said first finger and attached to said cover adjacent to said rim.

2. The roof ventilator according to claim 1 wherein the tabs each extend radially relative to the tubular member and wherein the cooperating guide means comprise slots formed in the plate for receiving the tabs to guide the plate during its movement relative to the tubular member.

3. A roof ventilator according to claim 1 including an annular screening section extending substantially continuously across the space between said tubular member and said cover below said sealing edge to prevent foreign objects from entering the tubular member; and wherein each tab further includes surface means on said second leg attached to said screening section. 

1. A roof ventilator comprising in combination: a tubular member having a sealing means at one end with an annular sealing edge and a lip extending outwardly from said edge; an imperforate plate mounted for movement between a first position wherein said plate engages said sealing edge and a second position wherein said plate is disposed away from said sealing edge, said plate and said tubular member being positioned when in use so that gravitational forces will urge said plate to move in a direction toward a first position; a cover positioned to extend over the end of said tubular member and then downwardly to a rim positioned beneath said sealing edge; and a plurality of tab means of a planar sheet of material having a first portion and a second portion extending at right angles to each other in a common plane, said first portion including opposed surfaces for contacting said plate to guide said plate during movement thereof, a first finger extending from said second portion transverse to the plane of said first and second portion and attached to said tubular member, and a second finger extending from the second portion in a direction parallel to said first finger and Attached to said cover adjacent to said rim.
 2. The roof ventilator according to claim 1 wherein the tabs each extend radially relative to the tubular member and wherein the cooperating guide means comprise slots formed in the plate for receiving the tabs to guide the plate during its movement relative to the tubular member.
 3. A roof ventilator according to claim 1 including an annular screening section extending substantially continuously across the space between said tubular member and said cover below said sealing edge to prevent foreign objects from entering the tubular member; and wherein each tab further includes surface means on said second leg attached to said screening section. 